May 2012 Archives

The designer drug known as “bath salts” has been in the news a lot lately. While taking bath salts may turn you into a zombie, it can also get you a DUI.

This week, Mesa police arrested a woman on suspicion of driving under the influence of bath salts. Police indicate that Myra Rosas displayed many of the symptoms of the drug when she was pulled over for driving on a suspended license.

Authorities believe that alcohol played a role in a wrong-way driving crash that left two people dead on Interstate 17 late Monday night, The Arizona Republic reports.

Olivia Wilson, a senior at Desert Ridge High School, was killed when her car was struck by a van driving in the wrong direction on I-17. The driver of the van died in the crash as well. Investigators believe that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

Memorial Day weekend is a dangerous time to be on the road. With many people off from work and getting sloshed, the streets can look like a Mad Max movie.

Last year nine people died in car crashes in Arizona during Memorial Day weekend. That’s why state police agencies are going to be patrolling in full force this weekend, AZfamily.com reports. Below, we’ve included a few of the hot spots Phoenix Police Department will be focusing on and a few tips to stay safe.

With summer on the way, many people will be boating on Apache and Roosevelt lakes. If you get stuck operating the boat while everyone else gets to have fun, remember to lay off the booze.

Under Arizona's boating OUI law, it’s illegal for anyone in the state to operate a boat with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher. If you're operating a commercial vessel, it's illegal to operate it with a BAC of .04 or more.

Below, we've included a few things to think about if you do find yourself being cited for an OUI while boating.

The family of a 14-year-old boy who was killed by a drunk driver in 2008 has settled its civil suit with the city of Tucson for $2 million, the Arizona Daily Star reports.

Glenda Rumsey was convicted of manslaughter, aggravated assault, and three DUI charges for the accident that killed Jose Rincon Jr. Rincon’s parents later filed a wrongful death suit against Rumsey, the city of Tucson, and Chuy’s restaurant where Rumsey drank before the crash.

Driving drunk can not only expose you to criminal charges but civil suits as well. Most people are aware that a person injured in an alcohol-related accident can sue the drunk driver in a civil action.

But did you know that victims of drunk driving accidents in Arizona can also sue the bar or restaurant that served the alcohol to the driver?

According to authorities, 18-year-old Tori Vance was pulled over after she made an illegal U-turn in her Mini Cooper in Hollywood. The Ahwatukee-native has reportedly been living in L.A. pursuing a modeling career.

From 2010 to 2011, fatal accidents involving impaired drivers dropped 80 percent, according to police statistics. Fatal accidents in general fell by 44 percent. According to Tempe police, the decline was due to the department’s new emphasis on traffic enforcement.

With summer on the way, many people will be drinking at barbecues or by the pool. When moving from spot to spot, however, it's important to remember to leave that half-empty beer behind.

Under Arizona's open container law, it's a class 2 misdemeanor for anyone to drive with an opened or unsealed container of alcohol in the passenger compartment. That goes for drivers and passengers alike. Below, we've included some things to keep in mind if you do find yourself being cited for an open container violation.

Pedro Ramirez has been charged with manslaughter, aggravated assault, and extreme DUI for the crash that killed Angel Alvarez. The boy's mother, 21-year-old Evangelina Barrios, has also been arrested for failing to secure the boy in a child safety seat.

Imagine a mouth spray that gets you instantly drunk, then quickly disappears from your system, leaving you hangover free. Though it sounds like something out of the Jetsons, French scientists claim that they’ve invented it, USA Today reports.

The spray was released in Paris this week, and will be sold throughout Europe. Scientists have warned, however, that it’s physiologically impossible for the spray to make you drunk, yet be undetectable “by any alcohol test” as it was rumored to do. But what if the spray does work to even a small degree? How would police prove DUI in cases where the alcohol is untraceable? Would the spray bottle count as an open container?

Police have stated that a 22-year-old man was driving drunk when his SUV rolled over near Colorado City, killing the man and four teenagers, The Arizona Republic reports.

According to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, an autopsy showed that Carl Otto Nathaniel Holm had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.186 percent at the time of the accident, over twice the legal limit.

With Cinco de Mayo just around the corner, many people are itching to celebrate Mexico’s victory at the Battle of Puebla with tequila shots and margaritas. However, the holiday is notorious for the spike in alcohol-related offenses that typically accompanies the festivities.

Here’s a quick run-through of some of Arizona’s most important alcohol-related laws to help you avoid an evening in the drunk tank and possible criminal charges on May 5.

About The Phoenix DUI Law Blog

The Phoenix DUI Blog takes a closer look at drunk driving cases, new developments in the law, and the harsh DUI penalties of Arizona. Citizens of the Grand Canyon state can learn about DUI issues, state specific information about drunk driving from this blog and learn how to contact a Phoenix DUI attorney. Have a comment or tip? Write to us.